RFEF to request Valencia and Vigo as 2030 World Cup host cities | OneFootball

The Spanish football federation will formally ask FIFA to add Valencia and Vigo to the 2030 World Cup host list, after months of verbal backing. The tournament is to be staged by Spain with Morocco and Portugal.

According to AS, president Rafael Louzán has championed Nou Mestalla and Balaídos in recent public appearances, and a written submission will be sent to FIFA in the coming days. FIFA has the final say on their inclusion.

Valencia and Vigo were omitted from the 11 venues named two summers ago, unveiled officially in December. Recent weeks have brought changes, with Málaga exiting over project cost gaps and A Coruña withdrawing amid disagreements on Riazor’s overhaul.

FIFA officials recently inspected the bid-book venues in Spain, excluding the two withdrawals. The list comprises Anoeta in San Sebastian, Camp Nou and RCDE Stadium in Barcelona, Gran Canaria in Las Palmas, La Cartuja in Seville, Metropolitano and Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid, Nueva Romareda in Zaragoza, and San Mamés in Bilbao.

Throughout, Valencia and Vigo kept their candidacies active in case of openings. The RFEF has told FIFA verbally that they would replace those cities, and will now file full dossiers.

FIFA will not turn to 2030 venue matters until September, its focus now on this summer’s tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada. A permanent office is planned in Madrid in autumn, with venue decisions due between November and December, including whether to confirm Valencia, which will be included if Nou Mestalla is finished on time, and Vigo.

Source: AS